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Protect Your Eyes from the Sun

June 22nd, 2016 by Carolina Eye Associates

Beach bound? Just as you protect your skin from sunburn you should protect your eyes as well. There are several ways you can protect your eyes from sun damage.

Wear sunglasses with the ability to absorb and block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB light. The lenses should be dark and large enough to completely cover the eye to prevent sunlight from seeping through the sides of the glasses. The more skin covered the better. Polarized lenses are great because they eliminate glare, especially when driving, but also when out on the water, where reflection magnifies glare.

Wear hats. A wide brimmed hat can shade your eyes from the sun. Wearing a hat with at least a three-inch brim all around can block up to half of all UVB rays from your eyes and eyelids. Hats also help block UV from entering your eyes from above.

Harmful UV rays can slowly damage your eyes over time and put you at risk for conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration and thickening of the white parts of the eyes. Too much UV exposure is proven to accelerate the development of cataracts.

These are year-round strategies so be sure to practice them in spring, summer, winter and fall.